Hawkins
fills the publisher representative seat; Davis the music and entertainment
seat; and Vineyard the chain and franchise representative seat.

“I
am honored to welcome these gentlemen with seasoned industry perspectives to
the board of directors,” CBA Board Chair Sue Smith of Baker Book House said. “Our
industry continues to maneuver through inconceivable transition. Their combined
history and expertise bring us the wisdom needed to lead well in the changes we
face.”

Hawkins
is a second-generation head of one of the leading Christian publishing houses.
His late father, Bob Hawkins Sr., founded the company in 1974 with five titles
and a dream to publish books to help the hurting. The company publishes more
than 150 books annually and reports a backlist of more than 1,200 titles.

Hawkins,
who took the corporate reins in 1991, said he loves that books point people to
Jesus.

“It
gives me great pleasure to know our books deeply impact the lives of countless
others who desire to know and grow in Him,” he said.

He
once worked at the Fresno Bible House (Fresno, California), one of the
strongest independent stores at the time, and which Berean Christian Stores
later acquired.

Hawkins
said he thinks CBA must come alongside and serve all sectors of the industry
and especially strengthen Christian stores amid the many competitive forces
they face.

Randy Davis served as the Christian Music Trade Association
chairman/president in 2011-2012 and was on the Gospel Music Association board’s
executive committee. He also served on the CBA advisory committee that
developed industry EDI e-commerce standards.

Davis believes Christian retail is the key to reaching the local
church community.

“[Christian stores] are the industry’s hands and feet,” he said.

His belief in Christian resources comes from personal experience,
having been discipled by a bookstore staffer from Chicago Bibles & Books in
the city’s Irving Park area.

Tim Vineyard, head of the more than 180 LifeWay stores, said CBA
is a valuable organization that assists all of its members with research, news,
representation, training, best practices and legislative issues. He said he
sees CBA’s overall collaborative and cooperative leadership as important to the
Christian marketplace and as a key voice to Christian retail.

Vineyard said the Bible has had the most impact in his life, but
that other Christian resources, from VBS and Sunday school materials to small group
studies, music and more, continue to help him on his faith journey.